tianity, and that they consist in those Divine qualities essential to it which are recognized by those who are "spiritual." Mr. Stuart "is on the wrong trail" in denominating those evidences external, which have always been spoken of as internal. In opposition to Dr. Chalmers, we rate them far above the external evidences, and hold that the state of mind which appreciates them is essential to a person's being a christian.

(6) The first half of Mr. Stuart's third division looks like a statement of our view. We should have almost thought him inspired by "The Church." The Human and the Divine in the language of Scripture, is the very thing to be adjusted. On the verbal theory there is really nothing human. The man is but a machine:-"a musical instrument played on by his Creator," is a favourite image.

(7) Yes, God "could" move the writers to choose the words they would have chosen, had he not dictated the words; that is, he could present to us every appearance of the diction being that of the writer, while it was in reality his own; so says the Catholic, -the bread has, indeed, every appearance of being still bread, but you are to believe that it is flesh and blood. Had the style been the same, from the pens of such different writers, the very miracle would have been evidence that it was verbally inspired. It would have been clear that the language was that of one author, of whom the sacred writers were but the amanuenses. The expedient of Mr. Stuart to save verbal Inspiration we think the most dangerous which can be resorted to. We think the self-evident truth Mr. Stuart wants us to rest upon, must be difficult indeed to find, if, when things appear selfevident, we are yet to be told God can have

caused all these appearances miraculously, though they appear natural. Of course God can deceive if he will. To repeat our former illustration, God could have created all the fossils, skeletons, shells, and trees as they are, instead of their being what they appear to be, the remains of once living beings,-a view once thought necessary by some theologians to save the credit of the Mosaic cosmogony, and to disprove "death before the fall,"-God could thus deceive us in creation, and he could equally in Revelation present appearances opposite to the fact. The grand disadvantage of thus calling on the power of God, is, that it leaves us trembiing for his veracity. It makes him the deliberate author of false appearances, with no means on our part of correcting them.

Stuart for his comBut we think our

(8) We thank Mr. pliment and admonition. friend must have had the gift of second sight, or he would not have discerned a spectre, where, to those who have good common sight, all is natural and true.

(9) We also thank him for his kind conclusion. The validity of all the arguments of writers on the question, of course we shall also decline to guarantee. We should think the controversy of almost no consequence, were not our young men now exposed to a peculiarly dangerous mode of attack on the part of infidels, and did we not think the verbal theory of Inspiration that which lays the Scriptures most open to the most dangerous of these attacks. To such as can, without danger to their faith, receive the verbal theory, we say most sincerely, "Let them receive it;" only let them believe that the "self-evidently” human style of Scripture may be what it appears, without detriment to its being the mind and word of God.

we are about to relate is one of so forcible a character that we think it will be productive of good.

Two young clerks in a large American and French house in Pearl-street, were particularly intimate, so much so, that although they boarded in different houses, yet they were constantly together during the hours of recreation from business.

One of them had been presented with a little French poodle, and he at once set about instructing it to perform all those little tricks for which the breed are famed.

For some days his companion witnessed his persevering efforts to make "Grotto" bring his handkerchief, catch pennies, stand upon his hind legs, and do many other trifling but amusing tricks. At length he got tired of being a looker on at so much waste of time, and resolved that whilst his friend I was being the tutor of "Grotto," he himself would be a pupil to a French teacher, and endeavour to master the French language by the time "Grotto's" education was completed.

Without saying a word to his friend he commenced his studies, and being diligent, fast acquired a knowledge of the language; he also improved from hearing a good deal of French spoken in the warehouse, though he carefully avoided uttering a word. At length "Grotto" was finished, and had very truly acquired a knowledge of an infinite number of amusing games, and his owner prided himself no little on his acquirements.

The owner of "Grotto" was a little the senior in the house of the other, and of course preceded him in promotions. One morning he came out of the private room of the principal member of the firm, and looking very much down-cast, approached his friend.

"Tom," said he, "the firm want to send one of the clerks this summer to France to buy goods, and they have offered the chance to me, providing I could speak French, but as oui' is about the extent of my French, it's no go for this time. What a fool I was in not studying it when I was a boy! "Well," said Tom, "whose chance is next?"

"Why yours, of course, ha! ha! ha! they will put the question all round out of politeness, and as none of us can parley vous, ha ha! ha! why somebody will be engaged, and all of us headed off."

In the course of the morning Tom was called before the firm, and in glowing terms were the advantages set forth if he could

only have spoken the language of the country they wished him to go to. Tom listened with delight, and inwardly chuckled at the surprise he would give them.

"Of course," said one of the firm, "you should have the situation if you could only speak French; but as you cannot, we shall have to employ some one else. Very sorry, great pity," &c.

"Well," said Tom, "it can't be helped, and there is no time, I suppose, to study now, so I must just do the best I can. Mr. Toutette, shall you and I have a little chat? perhaps I may pass muster."

Mr. Toutette and Tom entered into an animated conversation very much to the surprise of all present, which, after being kept up in double quick time for some fifteen minutes, Mr. Toutette very candidly told his partners that Tom was fully competent for the place.

Tom was a great favourite, and the firm were heartily glad that he was capable of holding the situation, and he was instructed to prepare himself for departure by the next steamer.

Tom now returned to his friend, who met him with a right good "Ha! ha! ha!"

"Well, Tom, no use; I told you so." "Ah," replied Tom, you are out this time. My French has been approved of, and I am done here-I sail in the next steamer."

"You don't say so; but, Tom, when did you learn French? "

"When you were teaching 'Grotto.""

A new light flashed across the vision of "Grotto's" master. "What!" said he, "whilst was fooling over that dog, were you studying?"

"Just so; and you now know with what success our time has been rewarded!"

By the judicious disposal of time, one young man is on the high road to mercantile fame and fortune, whilst, by throwing away time, another, equal in abilities, is doomed to drudgery and clerkship perhaps all his days.

THE CLOSING YEAR.

My juvenile readers are looking forward, I doubt not, to the commencement of a new year with joyous expectations. You have begun to think of the merry holidays of its first week, and of the beautiful New Year's presents from your friends and companions, and some of you perhaps have planned visits, excursions, and amusements, far on, for

several months, in the year which you have not yet seen commence; but how many of you are looking back on the year to which you are now to bid a last adieu? So eager will you be to greet the new year, that I fear you will allow the old one to pass away with scarcely giving it a thought; yet this year has been a precious portion of your life. It has been the time with you to gather and store up knowledge and wisdom; it has been the time with you to practise obedience to your parents and guardians, and kindness to brothers, sisters, and companions; it has been the time, the best time, to give your heart to God, and strive to obey all his precepts. Has all this been done, my dear young reader? Have you thought that you are an immortal being, having a spirit within you that can never die? This very inclination you have to be always looking forward and never back, shews that your mind cannot stop here. It is stretching itself onward, and still onward, to reach another state of existence.

And now this year of 1851-have all its days been so improved as to prepare you for a better world? Who knows but this one year has been a large part of your life on earth? To thousands it has been the tenth, eighth, or seventh part of their probation. But I suppose the boy or girl whose eyes now pass over this will think, "One year will not be so large a part of my life. I expect to be a man or woman. I have often thought what I shall be and do when I grow up." Yes, my child, and so have all others thought before you; but very many die in childhood. I once had a little friend who was very healthy and active, and I suppose had never thought of dying in childhood.

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I well recollect his last New Year's day, He came to me in the morning to shew me bi the present he had just received from his Y mother. It was a Bible. He was delighted with it, and said he should use it in Sabbathschool, and at church, and never study any other; but he used it only a few months. He was very suddenly called away. One year was more than an eighth part of all his life. A few moments after I saw his eyes closed in death, I went to the bookcase where his little library was nicely kept, to look for his Bible. It was then not altogether new, as I had seen it before, but a little worn, of and having in it many marks which his little T fingers had placed on parts which he had loved to read, and had learned to recite. GT His mother was very glad his last New Year's present was the best of books. hope you will have such presents on the first of the year as will do you the most good, and not such as will merely amuse you, Do not suppose I would rob you of your pleasures, and cast a shadow over the joyous morning of your life. Oh, no, I desire that you may be truly and for ever happy! Several of my juvenile acquaintance will look back over this closing year, and back to it through an eternal life of happiness, as the most blessed of all years, for in the first part of this year they became Christians. They have just begun to be truly happy. If you cannot feel that you are now interested in A the great salvation, do not suffer another year to commence without giving your heart to Jesus Christ. He is the children's W Friend. Love and trust him, and he will 60 make your future years happy, and, when all years are past, he will take you to live with him in heaven.

A CURE FOR ANXIETY.-It will give me the utmost pleasure to understand that the agitation of uncertainty respecting this world's riches, has led you to draw closer to that "living God who giveth us all things richly to enjoy." It is delightful to think that whatever we ask in prayer believing we shall receive. The condition upon which you get, is that you believe that you shall get it (Mark xi. 24). Now we will observe that this qualifying clause re. stricts the prayer to certain objects. You cannot pray believingly for riches; you cannot pray believingly for a continuance in your present situation; you cannot fasten

on another situation, and pray believingly that God would translate you there; and why? Because you know not if these things be agreeable to the will of God. This want of knowledge prevents an absolute belief, and hence, though you do pray for the things above specified, you may not get them; you may pray for them in the following terms, "Lord, if it be thy will," &c. But there are certain other objects which you have a full warrant to pray believingly for, and which, believing, you may pray absolutely for, and obtain them. You may rest assured that he will hear, if you ask according to his will

(1 John v. 14, 15). Now, there are many such objects made known to us in the bible, and forming the promises, which are Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus, The Holy Spirit is one of these (Gal. iii. 14,Luke xi. 13). Wisdom is another (James i. 5). The general object of salvation is a third (1 Tim. ii. 4). Now, what I would like to impress upon your mind, and all who are beset with anxieties about the future days they have to live in this world, is, that daily bread is one of these objects. It is agreeable to the will of God that you ask it, for it is the very petition which the Son of God taught his disciples. You have a full warrant for believing, then, that you shall get it, and according to the faith of your prayers so will it be done unto you. This harmonizes with the precept, "Take no thought," or as it should have been rendered,-"be not thoughtful," be not anxious about the things of to-morrow. shall only add, that if the most anxious and unhappy men of the world were examined as to the ground of their disquietude, it would be found in ninety and nine cases out of the hundred, that the provision of this day was not the ground of it. They carry forward their imagination to a distant futurity, and fill it up with the spectre of melancholy and despair. What a world

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of unhappiness would be saved if the things of the day were to occupy all our hearts. the duties, the employments, the services of the day; and as to the morrow, how delightful to think that we have the sure warrant of God for believing, that by committing its issue in quietness to him, when the future day comes the provisions of that day will come along with it. Feel yourself to be in the hands of God, and you will not be afraid because of evil things (Ps. cxii. 7).--Extract of a letter from Dr. Chalmers to his sister.

PRAYER.-Prayer has divided seas, rolled up flowing rivers, made flinty rocks gush into fountains, quenched flames of fire, muzzled lions, disarmed vipers and poisons, marshalled stars against the wicked, stopped the course of the moon, arrested the rapid sun in his great race, burst open iron gates, recalled souls from eternity, conquered the strongest devils, commanded legions of angels from heaven. Prayer has bridled and chained the raging passions of men, and routed and destroyed vast armies of proud, daring, blustering atheists. Prayer has brought one man from the bottom of the sea, and carried another in a chariot of fire to heaven. What has not prayer done? -Ryland.

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HAMBURGH.

1. We have been favoured by the Rev. A. Arthur, of Edinburgh, with a very interesting account of a Conference of Baptist churches, which he, in company with other Ebrethren, has just attended at Hamburgh. We regret that our space being this month so much smaller than usual, we are compelled to abridge the account into a very small compass. There were present, at the Baptist Convention, at Hamburgh, besides our brother, four others from England, -Brethren Steane and Hinton, from London, and Angus and Green, from Newcastle. Delegates from Berlin, Stetton, Breslau, Bremen, Memel, Magdeburgh, Copenhagen, Sweden, and other parts of the continent attended, and took part in the deliberations. From the reports given by the missionaries and colporteurs planted in different localities throughout the land, it appeared that decided indications were everywhere manifested of a desire to hear the Word, tracts in large numbers readily received, and a far greater demand for labourers in the gospel than could be supplied. Many important subjects were discussed in a temperate and christian spirit. Among these, the necessity and advantages of a Union amongst the German churches, and periodical meetings for fraternal counsel and encouragement, were very fully considered. These were much approved, provided there were no element

of authority introduced, but each church remaining independent, and subject to the jurisdiction and government of their spiritual and Divine Head. Arrangements seemed to be contemplated, somewhat resembling the Baptist Associations in England, or the Scottish Congregational Union of Scotland, which have wrought so beneficially in advancing their spiritual good, and extending the cause of the Redeemer around them. At the close of these deliberative meetings, during which the brethren from Britain were occasionally invited to give their opinions, the christian salutations of the convention were most cordially and unanimously voted to the churches whom they represented. The members of the deputation then addressed them,-dwelt on the affectionate interest felt in their prosperity, their desires for their continued progress and preservation from the wiles of the great adversary,-and promised to make known at home what they had seen of the grace of God. Interesting services were also held on the following Sabbath morning, in which Brethren Lehman, Steane, Green, and Arthur, took various parts. On the evening of this day, Brother Oncken preached, and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered. The brethren felt that though they spake in divers tongues, they were one in heart and in blessing. To the churches in Germany, there have been' added, during the three last years, upwards of 1700 souls, and the number of

members in fellowship altogether is now nearly 4000. They have a wide field for their operations. It is not marked by a multiplicity of sects as in this country, and which often cast very powerful obstacles in the way of the most faithful servants of the Lord. Many doors are still open on the continent for the admission of the gospel, and more enquiries for the Word of Life than our brethren can answer. Neological sentiments are yet very prevalent in Germany. The work of David Strauss has been re-published in a cheap form, and circulated in immense numbers among the people. Infidelity has thereby become What our strengthened and increased.

brethren witnessed, however, of the progress of the work of God in Germany, calls for holy gratitude to the God of all grace. Though they had seen much of the magnificence of this world, yet the emotions inspired by spectacles of mere outward grandeur were entirely eclipsed by those which were excited by scenes of spiritual life, when they beheld so large a company of souls born again of the Word and Spirit of God, and "made meet for being partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."

DUNMOW.

The Baptist church, at Dunmow, has been in a feeble and inefficient state for many years, which has been partly owing to a considerable debt remaining upon the chapel, and partly owing to the existence of discordant sentiments among the people. Within the last three years, several persons who hold-or who are represented to holdAntinomian views, have withdrawn from the congregation; the consequence of which has been, that matters have been conducted more peaceably in the church. Mr. J. King, who has laboured there with great devotedness for some years, has been compelled, through ill-health, to relinquish his pastoral duties. But having been the means of introducing a healthier spirit into the church, he was anxious, before qutting his post, to secure to the people the christian sympathy and support of the neighbouring churches. He therefore induced the friends to seek connexion with the Essex Baptist Association; and, in September last, when the state of his health rendered it imperative that he should at once give up his public labours, Mr. King and his friends united in a request to the ministers of the said Association, that they would kindly supply the pulpit for some time to come, and that they would render to the church such advice and assistance as it might require in its future operations. This request was promptly responded to. The chapel was closed for some necessary repairs in the beginning of October, and on Lord's-day, the 19th, it was re-opened, when sermons were preached by the Rev. E. Davis, of Romford, and on Monday, the 20th, another service was held, when two addresses were delivered by the Rev. D. Rees, of Braintree, and the Rev.

E. Davis. There is a chapel and vestries, and some burial ground, which cost about £900. The chapel is substantial, and will accommodate between 300 and 400 persons,but there is a debt of £250 still remaining. The town, which has a population of nearly 3,000, together with the surrounding villages, afford an interesting field of labour for some devoted and enterprising young

man.

BIRMINGHAM-GRAHAM-STREET CHAPEL.

The foundation-stone of a school-room in connection with the Baptist chapel, in Graham-street, Birmingham, was laid on the 11th ult., by the Rev. Thos. Morgan; and the occasion was also appropriated by that gentleman's friends to the commemoration of the jubilee of his ministry in Birmingham. Nearly all the Baptist and Independent ministers in the town were present. The ceremony of laying the stone commenced with a procession from the old school-room to the site of the new one, several hymns were sung and prayer offered, after which the aged and respected minister of the chapel addressed those assembled on the important object for which the building now begun was to be appropriated. adjournment then took place into the chapel, and speeches were delivered by Josh. Sturge, Esq., the Rev. J. A. James, and others, on topics connected with the jubilee, with Mr. Morgan's long and arduous labours, and with popular education. An address was presented to Mr. Morgan on behalf of the meeting, after which the proceedings closed.

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MINCHINHAMPTON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

The Rev. J. Morris, of the Baptist College, Bristol, who has recently been supplying at the above place, has acepted the unanimous and very cordial invitation of the church to become their pastor. He commenced his labours on Lord's-day, Sept. 21, with many promises of happiness and success.

MILDENHALL.

The Rev. W. C. Ellis, late pastor of the Baptist church, Burwell, Cambridgeshire, has accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the church at West-Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk, and commenced his stated labours there on the third Sabbath in October.

ROSS, HEREfordshire.

The Rev. John Cooper has resigned the pastorate of the Baptist church in this town, in order to take charge of the Baptist church in Newark, Nottinghamshire, to which place he will be followed by the earnest prayers and ardent good wishes of many among whom he has been accustomed to labour.

GLASGOW.

The Rev. R. Johnston, of Beverley, has accepted an invitation from the church in Blackfriar-street, Glasgow, to become their pastor, and will enter on his labours early in December.